american alchemy pt 2: witch hunts and the invisible college

In this second episode of our three-part American Alchemy series, the focus shifts to John Winthrop Jr. and the culmination of his alchemical endeavors in New London. Acting as the eyes and ears of the Royal Society of London, Winthrop sought homegrown talent for his alchemical project, becoming a central figure in the American colonies' intellectual landscape. He enlisted the help of local alchemists, including George Starkey and others associated with Harvard or arriving from England and Bermuda.

Winthrop's alchemical pursuits extended beyond experimentation to creating a medical center in New London, where he treated patients from across the colonies and Europe. His medicines, often based on antimony and nitre, gained popularity, and Winthrop organized a network of female healers to distribute them. Despite his success, Winthrop contemplated closing or moving New London in 1650 but ultimately expanded the project, and by 1657, he became the governor of Connecticut.

Connecticut, initially a Puritan colony, faced changes with the restoration of the monarchy. Winthrop's father-in-law, Charles II, posed a potential threat, and Winthrop sailed to England in 1661. His absence marked the onset of a witch-hunt in Connecticut, reflecting the challenges and tensions within Puritan culture. Winthrop's diplomatic skills were instrumental in negotiating with the English crown and ensuring a degree of autonomy for Connecticut.

The episode delves into the interconnected lives of alchemists within Winthrop's circle, such as Robert Childe, Elias Ashmole, and Gershom Bulkeley. Their pursuits ranged from alchemy and Rosicrucianism to astronomy and medicine. The text emphasizes the complexities of their beliefs and practices, showcasing a diverse group bound by a shared interest in the esoteric.

As Connecticut faced political changes, Winthrop's role evolved, and he navigated the shifting dynamics while continuing his alchemical experiments.

The episode concludes with Winthrop's legacy, contemplating the end of an era as New England faced challenges that would pave the way for the establishment of the United States of America. The narrative highlights the intertwining of alchemy, politics, and cultural shifts in the development of the American colonies.

SELECTED READING: “The Intelligencers and the Fifth Moon of Jupiter: Alchemy in the American Colonies” by Kimberly Nichols via Newtopia Magazine (Oct 2012)

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